Immigration Services

In 2009, Serco signed two contracts with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to manage immigration facilities around Australia.

The first contract, signed on 29 June, enables Serco to manage and operate Immigration Detention Centres (IDCs) and alternative places of detention on Christmas Island, Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney.

The second contract, commencing in January 2010, enables Serco to manage and operate Immigration Residential Housing (IRH) and Immigration Transit Accommodation (ITA) in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Residential housing is independent, secure, family-style housing in a community setting and transit accommodation is secure, short-term accommodation.

Serco will also provide national and international transport and escort services from Australia.

Under the IDC, IRH and ITA contracts, Serco will provide a greater focus on the dignity, respect and well-being of people in our care, a hallmark of our success in winning the bids.

Using the skills and operational experience developed in the UK and Australia, Serco will seek to improve the operation of each IDC in line with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s new detention values, including the standard of living skills and English language education programmes and the availability of facilities such as, a World Faith Centre, gym, library and the internet.

The five IDCs are located at Villawood (Sydney), Maribyrnong (Melbourne), Darwin (Northern Territory), Perth (Western Australia) and Christmas Island (Indian Ocean).

Serco’s approach is to engage with and support people in immigration detention through our values and the recruitment of Client Service Officers with social care skills.

Our operational experience, combined with a proven management system, ensures the highest standards of performance and accountability become our benchmark.